A family owned business always strives to accommodate their guests, serves good food and gives great service to ensure that guests will return. Reynolds Tavern failed miserably for what was supposed to be a "high tea" party. Food, desserts and service were mediocre at best! We as the guests were surprised by the lack of organization and treatment by the staff. Do better if you want to keep your family business !! read more

Bottom Line: A variety of dining experiences in a 276 year old building with great service. Reynolds Tavern offers lunch and dinner in their dining room, a subterranean pub and three guest rooms but I think Reynolds Tavern might best be known for its afternoon tea. On my first visit to Reynolds Tavern I went for dinner and really enjoyed the Maryland-centric menu offering favorites like oysters, Rockfish, crab cakes, fried chicken, Smithfield ham and Smith Island Cake I was wanting to return for afternoon tea and I am so glad I finally made it! I dragged my husband to afternoon tea in celebration of my birthday and I was a little worried that he might feel out of place but it was definitely a mixed crowd of families, couples and a few tables of ladies. At noon on a Saturday it was full so I think reservations for weekends are a must. The way afternoon tea works at Reynolds Tavern is that each person orders the "tea service" that would like which includes a pot of tea of tea and food. For tea, there are a variety of teas to choose from including black, green and oolong and many flavors of each variety. The accompanying food depends on which tea service you order and may include scones, little desserts, little sandwiches, cheese, soup, salad or quiche. You can also get sparkling wine with your tea service. At the time of this review tea service ranges from $16 to $39 per person so although we're talking about little finger sandwiches and dainty tea cups, this isn't necessarily an inexpensive experience. My husband I both ordered the Colonial High Tea service which included a scone, two tarts, three little crustless finger sandwiches, a variety of tea cakes and pastries, a slice of homemade quiche and of course tea. The quiche came out first and then our three-tiered of little treats arrived next. Our favorites were the quiche lorraine, mushroom tart and cranberry orange scone. Our server was Stephanie and she was excellent! She was very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. I also appreciate that she offered us paper menus because I really don't like having to handle my dirty cell phone at the table and trying to scroll through an unfamiliar menu on my small-ish screen. Reynolds Tavern dates back prior to the Revolutionary War and is located inside a beautiful Georgian style building that was once threatened by the wrecking ball in favor of a gas station. (Gasp! Sure glad that didn't happen.) Paid parking is conveniently located nearby at the Visitors' Center and Gotts Court garage. read more

Came here to celebrate a birthday. It's a cute brick building that's been there since 1747. Parking is accessible about a block away but it is a small lot thats about $5/hr ($4.50/he and a 50 cent card charge) We ordered the Champagne Tea which was about $33pp which came with a glass of champagne, scones, sandwiches and tea cakes and obviously your choice of tea. Its like a multipurpose kinda place - it has a beer garden, a restaurant and tea service (all of which are in separate areas of the building). They have a variety of teas - black, fermented, green, white, Fruit, and a host of blends. I'm a black tea kind of girl so I had a tea called the Paris which was very aromatic and a great taste! read more

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There are a lot of ways to dine here, but the most unique to us seemed to be the Tea Service, which we partook in. It was rather fun and very filling, despite it being "just tea." Just tea, indeed! It was a bowl of velvety cream of crab soup, a selection of sandwiches, savory tarts, and what seemed like a mountain of desserts, PLUS tea. It was really quite a lot for the price, and the food was very good. So was the tea! Everyone tried a different variety and no one regretted their choice! The seven-year-old we had with us was initially sad because she was underdressed, but she had a lot of fun with her strawberry lemon infusion, along with the rest of the goodies. So, it's kid-friendly, is what I'm getting at. But, yeah, the three adults had a blast too. It was a great time and a wonderful way to spend part of an afternoon in downtown Annapolis. If you haven't done Reynold's Tavern before, give it a go, for any meal. But, tea time is definitely the right time! read more

Reynolds Tavern - Loved the tea, loved the tableware! - Tea Rooms Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

Fair prices with excellent food in a rustic and historic location just up the street from the state capitol. The service was great as well. I would very much like to visit again and try other dishes on the menu. read more

Reynolds Tavern - French Onion soup - Tea Rooms Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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DO NOT GO HERE!!! The service is awful and the manager is rude! This place takes no accountability when they mess up, won't attempt to fix it when you address a problem, it's super expensive and the food is mediocre at best. read more

Went to Reynold's Tavern for afternoon tea. Been wanting to try this place for a while and it was definitely worth the wait. I had the best roasted tomato soup I've ever had anywhere. Their season chocolate chip cherry scones were delightful. They have a wide selection of teas so it was hard to narrow down what I wanted but I went with the pineapple youth berry white tea and it was light and fruity. The ambience is great with all the history associated with the building and the staff is really friendly. I'd highly recommend this place. read more

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Had afternoon tea with one other person. We got the colonial tea and the afternoon tea options. In addition to the typical afternoon treats, the colonial tea option came with the quiche. The quiche (both the mushroom onion one and the one in the afternoon set) were salty. The cranberry orange scones were surprisingly not as orange flavored, which i was hoping for anyways. Thee afternoon tea sandwiches were ok. They weren't completely filled so I felt a little cheated by them. Most of the desserts on top were good. I could have done without the almond and the biscuit. The hummingbird dessert was my favorite! The shepherd's pie was the highlight of the meal. The beef was tender, it wasn't salty like the afternoon tea savory items, and the potatoes were perfect. read more

Reynolds Tavern - Afternoon Tea and Shepherd 's Pie - Tea Rooms Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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Our party was too big for one table. After going around with them several times we managed to get enough seating for our party. Despite a tablebfor two and one for seven available in the same room, they worried we could be disruptive so seated part of our party in a separate room with warnings not to visit. Not really sure where this came from as it was my 90 yr old mother, two sisters and grown nieces. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ironically, the table behind us was so incredibly loud that we could hear neither our server or each other[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. We managed to behave. Would not go back an s would certainly not recommend. read more

Everything about this place is so nice. You wanna dabble in a classic and simple afternoon tea experience? It's reservation only, so make sure to plan ahead. It's so classy, you can't come here underdressed. It's so homey and relaxing, it's the perfect spot for a quiet celebration or just to catch up with a friend. Definitely not a date spot unless you're both into it. More for friends 100%. I'll definitely say it's on the pricier side. I pay $44-$45 including tip. Other than tea. I typically get the same thing. Please, please, PLEASE order the Cream Crab Soup. It's so creamy, so buttery, literally melted in my mouth. The teas are always so amazing and smell so good. The tea cakes, sandwiches, and scones are all really. The only gripe that I have is the variety for the sandwiches, tea cakes, and scones. It's always the same, very repetitive. It becomes boring. I wish there were options to choose from. The only thing I become excited for is the tea and soup. Overall though, it's a very great experience. I've gone back several times and will be going again. Highly recommended if you want to try afternoon tea. read more

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I took my 7-year-old daughter here for a tea date after a friend highly recommended it. Unfortunately, our experience was vastly different. We had a reservation for 2:00 p.m., yet still had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated. While the hostess did thank us for our patience, it was the first of several frustrating moments. Once seated, our server briefly introduced herself, Veronica, and then abruptly walked away to help another table--without asking if it was our first time or if we had any questions. Since this was our first visit, some basic guidance would have been helpful. I ordered the afternoon tea and clearly stated we would be sharing, since I was dining with my 7-year-old and didn't expect her to need a full tea setup. I also specifically asked if, when sharing, we could both choose our own tea and scone, and was told yes. I chose a caffeine-free tea for my daughter (noting it was for her) and a black tea for myself. The server returned and placed the teas on the table without identifying which was which. I assumed they had been placed correctly. After my daughter finished her tea, I tasted it and realized our drinks had been switched -- meaning she had unknowingly consumed the caffeinated one. I politely brought this to the server's attention, and her response was, "I didn't make the tea." No apology. No offer to fix the issue. When our tea tower arrived, the server gave a quick rundown of what was included, but never clarified the portion size. As a first-time visitor, I had no way of knowing whether the tower was meant for one or two people. Shortly after, we received our check, and I noticed we were charged for two full afternoon teas, even though I had been clear from the beginning that we'd be sharing. I pointed this out and reminded the server of our earlier conversation. She said she misunderstood and explained that we had been given two tea setups on the same tower. Again, this was not communicated, and no apology or solution was offered. At that point, I asked to speak with the manager and explained everything -- how I had asked if we could share, how the tea mix-up could've been avoided, and why caffeine was an issue for my daughter. Her response? That I should have known it was two tea setups because "there were two of everything." Then she added, "Well, it looked like you had no problem finishing the food anyway." I was stunned. Not only was there zero accountability or concern, but the comment felt unnecessary and downright insulting. I didn't want to make a scene with my daughter present, so I paid the bill in full -- even though it took them over 10 minutes just to process my card. I left feeling embarrassed, disrespected, and deeply disappointed. I will not be returning, and I would never recommend this place to anyone. read more

I decided to visit for the afternoon tea service on recommendation from a friend since I was visiting town for my work, and anytime I travel I love to try local tea rooms! Seating was very prompt by a sweet and welcoming host. We were shown our table and given a QR code to see the menus. After quite some time, eventually a waitress came to our table. No greeting, no introduction, just asking "what are you ordering" from several feet away while walking towards our table. Didn't really want to be shouting across the room so I waited until she was nearer to order. There was only one other table seated at this time so no real need to rush. We ordered the Queen's and Colonial teas. Tea itself wasnt anything to write home about. No stand-out faire, desserts were far too sweet and flavorless, and unevenly portioned between my guest and I. Mini quiches were both dry and gummy. By this time the room had filled up with a very large party directly in the middle of the room, as well as every table filled around us. We were placed in a corner and felt a bit trapped since there wasnt more than a foot between chairs and tables. Our waitress never checked on us aside to silently clear out a plate in passing, meanwhile made plenty conversation with other guests. Had to flag her down well after finishing to ask for a box and check, which i understand by now it had gotten busy so it took some time. Overall left a little underwhelmed compared to other places I've been. A real shame for somewhere in such a lovely historical district. read more

Reynolds Tavern - Two scones, jam and cream, mini quiche, finger sandwhiches, and an array of desserts - Tea Rooms Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

Found this historic tavern on Open Table, and 4 of us stopped in for drinks and dinner. Cocktails were well-made and refreshing. Started with an appetizer, the Meze platter, delicious and light for 4 people. Service was friendly and quick. Entrees were great, affordable and good portions. Overall good experience and would love to return for tea. read more

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If you want something different and delicious this is the place to go. [[HIGHLIGHT]]service, food, atmosphere, it has it all.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] And, they make a darn fine old fashioned read more

This is a very historic circa 1747 Tavern pub and excellent restaurant. The food was fantastic. I tried the Cajun sausage shrimp, linguine Lafayette and it was absolutely delicious. Compliments to the chef. I also tried the fried green tomato platter and that was also very impressive. The service was top-notch and it wasn't very busy on a Thursday evening around 5 o'clock. I'll be back to visit next time. I'm in Annapolis.. read more

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PLEASE BE FOREWARNED: this is an institution that, under prior ownership, was historically complicit with enslavement and the slave trade. Enslaved people were quite literally bought and sold on the property. My party and I were not aware of this when we sat down and ordered, but prospective customers ought to be aware of this history. Reynolds Tavern also has a moral obligation to acknowledge this history and there is a sign, but the sign and the acknowledgement are relatively easy to miss. The 3 stars in this review reflects the quality of the food and service we received, but this review does not prioritize assessment of that given the greater moral importance of the other matter discussed. read more

Review from early 2020 pre-pandemic. This restaurant has some historical background to it. It has two levels, one downstairs that has more of that tavern feel. But when we came, we were seated on the upper level. The layout on the upper level has that tea/cafe feel. Their white tablecloths on the table and their pastries are served on a cute metal rack. The waiters were all dressed up. I felt like I was underdressed... I ordered their shrimp and grits (see photo). Although the portion size was pretty small, the food was delicious. The best shrimp and grits I ever had. Everything was seasoned. Sometimes I get shrimp and grits with the grit not seasoned. Not the case here. The reason for the 4 stars is the apathetic attitude of the servers. Anytime we asked a question it felt like we were inconveniencing them. We had to flag down the server to get the check. Parking situation is typical Annapolis, where you have to find parallel street parking. read more

Reynolds Tavern - shrimp and grits - Tea Rooms Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

We really enjoyed the food, service and ambience. It's a Colonial times elegant tavern right in the heart of Annapolis. The fried oysters were excellent! read more

Iced tea was bitter. Waitress was very efficient and professional. Got the goat cheese salad; too much dressing, only 2 little goat cheese medallions and a few pecans and hardly any blueberries. It's a big portion of lettuce tho. Asked for a side of bread and they don't have that. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute little tables in old historic house, super cute but not happy with the meal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Went for tea .Wonderful experience. We sat at a table where we could see Church Circle. Our waitress was very engaging. Scones were so delicious that we ordered some to take home which came with strawberry jam and clotted cream My daughter loved the tomato soup which came with melted cheese and I loved the onion soup.We also love going to their outside movies in the summer and early fall. read more

This place offers a unique and historical throwback to eating breakfast and lunch. Here are some things I learned: 1) Make a reservation! My sister and I got lucky on our impromptu visit here but we got a table in the middle of the restaurant. If you want that scenic Bridgerton feel, getting a table by window or front room of the restaurant is ideal 2) All afternoon tea come with the standard scone and tower of sandwiches (small) and small cakes. I got the Colonial afternoon tea, which comes with an additional plate of quiche. I freaked out and thought the colonial only came with the quiche...whoops! All the afternoon tea also come a with a pot of delicious hot tea - pinkies up! 3. I came hungry and ordered the Shepherd's Pie which was so so so good! The meat was tender and sauce was tasty and it was flavorful! Not salty and everything was just cherry on top! So good and highly recommend It was a nice experience and I hope to try this place again! read more

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Two friends and i ate there last night before the Classic Theater outdoor show. I ordered a medium-rare burger with chedder and onion. It arrived well done. I sent it back and waited at least 20 min for another that arrived even more well done. I'm Diabetic and had to eat it! I did ask for ketchup/ arrived 30 min later when my dessert was served! My friends ordered salads with Salmon. One was with dressing on side. They both arrived with dressing and without salmon- which was brought 30 min later. We asked for an adjustment to the bill and were declined. You HAVE to spend $20 in food to attend the play, plus 20% "service" fee. What service?? Won't be eating there again read more

My wife and I love coming to Annapolis to walk around the town and try out different restaurants. Today we landed on Reynolds Tavern and had an early dinner in the beer garden. It was a perfect day to sit outside in the shade of the trees and umbrellas with nice music playing in the background. Our server was great, the food came out quickly, and it was tasty. My wife got the Sheppard pie, we got a brie for an app, and I got the salmon gyro. The salmon gyro was stuffed with a piece of salmon that weighed probably 6-8 Oz, the sauce was perfect, as were the cinnamon and sugar sweet potato fries. I wish restaurants here would serve marshmallow dipping sauce (fluff) with sweet potato fries as it's a game changer. :) read more

If you like historical spots that give you a "Bridgerton" feel, this is a great place. I can only speak to the lower level, but we found the atmosphere to be fancy and very intimate. The tea and sandwich plates were a big hit with our group. The servers were great and handled our large birthday group with ease. I ordered the steak frites for dinner and the only other person in our group who ordered food tried the crab cake sandwich. Although decent, the food wasn't as good as we had hoped and is what prevents a five star rating. It's not bad by any means, but just wasn't anything special. Overall this place is enjoyable for the look and the tea/sandwiches. If you are in Annapolis, it's worth a visit. read more

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We had a nice afternoon tea experience at Reynold's. It was $23 per person which included tea of course and a three tiers of goodies to share. Overall, our waitress was friendly and helpful. My main complaint is that it seemed to take a while for us to get anything, from our tea down to the food and to the check. There happened to be an exodus of diners when we arrived since we came late in the afternoon so there didn't seem to be an overwhelming number of diners. I think it took over 35 mins to get the food, by which point I was starving. Then it took another long time when we were waiting for the bill as well. The scones were good but the pastries were overall a bit too sweet for my palette. The tea sandwiches were good but pretty simple - cucumber, ham, and egg salad. Nothing to quite write home about. Will we be back? The ambiance was nice but I might skip on the afternoon tea and try something else next time or try the outdoor patio seating. read more

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Totally unfortunate experience... made reservations but ended up being seated over an hour afer the scheduled reservation time. Tea experience was disapointing and food arrived before tea was served ... food was ok but took over an hour to even begin getting the food and this was delivered in piece meal, out of order, fashion. We were here over four hours... due to food service delays and waiting. Owner didn't seem to care and was clueless and apathetic..... clearly contributing to the problems.. read more

Amazing experience! Highly recommend the tea service. The ambiance is nice. It's a hidden little gem in Annapolis, definitely worth the visit! The staff were polite and welcoming. read more

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This place is my favorite place to get Afternoon tea! The prices are great compared to the surrounding places that offer afternoon tea. The food on the lunch menu is amazing too. So far I've tried the fish and chips 10/10!! The fish had a nice crunch to it and do not get me started on how delicious the cream of crab soup is. If I lived closer I think I would always be here every week to enjoy the afternoon tea and the food. When you come here you'll be surprised that it is inside a historical house and but also end up feeling so cozy and warm once you get comfortable. read more

Delicious food, and a beautiful spot to eat. This place is all the cute and even more of location and atmosphere. This past Monday my hubby and I ventured into Annapolis for dinner it was a beautiful day! So happy we landed down there to enjoy this beautiful evening. We were a little confused about the entrance but the lady who came up to greet us was super helpful. She walked out to the back patio area where late lunch. W as being served. We now know, walk around the back and from there that is where you get you seated. Service was great! We were given some suggestions and I landed on the shepherds pie and my hubby did the salmon gyro....I will be doing that next time for sure!! I also had a small glass of wine. It was prefect. Great and food and my hubby :) we will most definitely be back to this spot as we live visiting and walking and exploring Annapolis! read more

I love the historical nature of this building. They have a room that takes you back to colonial times with a fireplace. We stopped in for lunch and they have some good sandwiches. Try the grilled meatloaf sandwich. Pretty good. read more

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Had an enjoyable experience here. I believed we had the high tea. Our order came with tea of course and there are several options from which to choose. We also had mushroom quiche, desserts, sandwiches and scones. The quiche was very tasty. The sandwiches and desserts were ok. There was nothing wrong with them but nothing necessarily stood out about them either. The tea was good. The atmosphere was nice and was what I expect from a tea house. The service was very good. The young lady who served us was very friendly and did a great job. I found off paid street parking around the corner a few blocks away. The time limit was 2 hrs maximum. It took me sometime to find parking especially since I am not familiar with the area. I didn't come across any parking lots or garages but that's worth looking into before you visit. read more

My friend and I came for the afternoon tea service, we really enjoyed the food and were surprised with how full we were afterwards. The ambiance felt like we were taken back in time the tea room was decorated so warmly. The staff were kind however I wish they were able to explain the tea selection a bit further they also seemed to be rushing us through since it was quite busy. read more

Reynolds Tavern - Tea Rooms Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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My friend and I visited Reynolds Tavern after watching a TikTok that recommended this place for the "charm". Upon walking in, the place gives very creepy vibes. You can tell that the place was built in 1742 (it has all of the same run down interior). It was not what I expected or what the pictures online show. I was unnerved sitting inside (the dining room had cracks in the ceiling and it did not look clean, it gave off a haunted vibe). We asked to be seated outside to escape the weird atmosphere and was made to wait 5 minutes because there was a waiting list (but there were plenty of tables outside). After inquiring about the history of the building to the waitress (asking if the place was haunted) and reading the website and menu, it only mentions that it was a historic spot in Annapolis and listed all of the good things that happened. Upon leaving there is a letter on the wall that states that the taverns front porch was used for slave auctions and that slaves built the tavern. There are also many artifacts displayed that were found from the slaves under the house. Very bad history and the food was mediocre. The drinks were good. read more

Reynolds Tavern - Reynolds Tavern's History - Tea Rooms Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

The tea was delicious. I sipped on the PG tips which was a very strong black tea. The chocolate cherry scones were scrumptious. The finger sandwiches were okay kind of dry. There was a ham, egg salad and cucumber sandwich. The champagne tea included a glass of champagne which was a nice touch. There were so many desserts! I don't even remember what the server said they were but they were delicious! The server was very patient with my party of 5 as we waited for the rest of the table to arrive. It was a very small room that managed to fit a lot of tables and at one point the room was packed with people that it was kind of hard to hear my table mates. Overall I would return it was a nice afternoon tea outing. read more

Reynolds Tavern - Tea Rooms Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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Went for afternoon tea, we were sat 35 min late for reservation, waited 24 minutes for water, servers were extremely rude, ten we were told they have another group behind us so we had to leave. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was over 80 degrees in the restaurant[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and the servers just responded , we know I'm working in it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They also said all their glasses were dirty[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Nobody there cared because gratuity's were included. read more

Service was good. It is a nice place to go for afternoon tea. The food was good and just the right portions.

This was a nice high tea but the hot food was great the cold food was just okay. There wasn't a lot of choices for what to change in price fix menu- I'd be fine if more of it was very good (I'm not sure if I'd go back because I know I'd be stuck with a lot of okay) Tea was good one I liked more than the other and the server didn't tell us the tea would curdle with cream... but okay. I enjoyed the ambiance and the soup and quiche. You come here to enjoy someone's company and I did that. Also I found prices fair. I wanted to host a party here I've heard good things about that, but I'm unsure if I would. Dress was super casual I put on a fascinator and dress, most people were in sweats or jeans.... I thought that was odd actually but, A note really that dress code isn't enforced/expected. I've been to a couple other tea experiences this was in the middle of those in rankings. It is kid friendly. read more

Had a catch up dinner with an old friend. Service was outstanding! I had the wedge salad, French onion soup and a cranberry mule. Both were great. The salad had spiced pecans with a touch of heat that paired well with the cold lettuce and creamy blue cheese dressing. Finished off the meal with a piece of Smith Island Cake to go. Would definitely go back. read more

Reynolds Tavern - Smith Island Cake - Tea Rooms Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

Reservations had been made online for 12 (2 tables of 6) for what we thought was outside in the garden. It was not clear on their website that reservations are not accepted for outdoor dining, so we thought we were okay. As it was, about 25 hungry people walked to Reynolds after a rally at Lawyers Mall for lunch. As we were settling in, arranging the tables in the otherwise empty garden, the young female manager came out to inform us since we had made reservations for 12 - inside - we misled them and were now considered a banquet since we were so many in number. She insisted we had to agree to a minimum "banquet" amount of $750 in food and drink. She was very insistent that they have a very strict policy and we must agree to this banquet fee/charge. When it was pointed out to her that we were the only customers in the garden on a Monday at noon, and certainly 25 paying customers were better than none, she figuratively dug in her heels about their policy. Feeling unwelcome and given an ultimatum by this young woman, we all left, figuring another restaurant would welcome our business, which one around the corner did. read more

Cute spot for some girl bonding over Victorian tea. It was quite pricey for the amount we got but unique experience. Food: cute finger foods. The soups were delicious, best crab soup around! The portions are very small and it only comes with 3 sandwich halves. The spinach tart was the best out of the savory platter. I got their seasonal candy cane tea. Not the best but not the worst. Service: small setting, slow service. They do not split checks here!! read more

Reynolds Tavern - Tea Rooms Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland